Objective To explore the arterial origin and the distribution of the extracranial branches of the facial nerve. Methods Red latex or red chlorinated polyvinyl chloride was injected into the arteries of 15 fresh adult head specimens by both common carotid artery catheterization. The arterial origin and distribution of the extracranial branches of the facial nerve were observed. Results The nutrient arteries of the extracranial branches of the facial nerve originated from stylomastoid artery of the posterior auricular artery, the facial nervous branch of superficial temporal artery, transverse facial artery, superior and inferior facial nervous branches of external carotid artery and the posteriorand anterior facial nervous branches of external carotid artery. The outer diameters of them were (0.8±0.2) mm, (0.9±0.4) mm, (1.9±0.3) mm, (1.0±0.2) mm, (1.1±0.4) mm, (1.0±0.2) mm and (1.1±0.6) mm respectively. The sub-branches ofthe attendant artery of the facial nerve anastomosed each other in addition to supplying their own nerve, and a rich vascular network was formed between the facial nerve and adjacent tissue. Conclusion The study on blood supply of the extracranial segment of the facial nerve can provide anatomic basis for avoiding injury of the nutrient arteries of the facial nerve during operation of the parotidean and masseteric region clinically.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of end-to-end neurorrhaphy following rapid expansion of the nerve in repairing facial nerve defect. Methods From August 2000 to February 2005, 9 patients suffering from facial nerve defect were treated by the surgical method. The defect was caused by traffic injury(4 cases) , by cutting injury (2 cases) and falling wound(1 case). Seven cases showed prominent facial paralysis. The other 2 cases were invaded by parotid carcinoma, without remarkable paralysis. One case had unibranch defect, and the other 8 cases had multibranch defect. The nerve gap ranged from 1.5cm to 3.0 cm. After both the proximal and the distal segment had been dissected,the nerve was elongated by the expander designed and manufactured. The expansionwas done at a speed of 2.0 cm/30 min, and it lasted until the end-to-end neurorrhaphy can be done easily. The treatment result was evaluated according to Baker’s classification and HouseBrackmann’s grading system. Results Nine patients were followed up 618 months. In 5 cases achieving good result, both dynamic look and static look of face were symmetric, the EMG peak value of mimetic muscle was 82%95% of normal side. In 3 cases achieving fair result, thedynamic look and static look of face were basically symmetric, and the EMG peak value of mimetic muscle was 60%90% of normal side. In 1 case achieving poor result, the function of mimetic muscle was improved slightly, and the EMG peak value of mimetic muscle was 55% of normal side. Conclusion The satisfactory resultcan be obtained by endtoend neurorrhaphy following rapid expansion of the nerve in condition that nerve defect is less than 3.0 cm.
OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive in fixation of intratemporal facial nerve when nerve was repaired within chitin chamber, and to investigate the nerve regeneration. METHODS: Nerve defect of 6 mm was made in left intratemporal facial nerves of 48 rabbits. All the defects were bridged with chitin chamber and were fixed by α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive, surgical suture and natural union. Nerve function test and histomorphological examination were carried out at 1 month and 3 months after repair. RESULTS: It was observed that the nerve was fixed firmly to the chamber with no crack or crease by α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive. The regenerated new nerve fibers were more regular and denser and the neurological function recovered much better in the group fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive than in the groups those fixed by surgical suture and natural union. CONCLUSION: The medical adhesive is b in adhesion and beneficial to nerve repair; repair of intratemporal facial nerve defect within chitin chamber fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive is feasible, simple and timesaving.
Objective To study the microsurgical anatomy of the facial nerve (FN ) trunk and provide some important morphometric data about facialhypoglossal nerve anastomosis (FHA). Methods Bilateral microsurgical dissection was performed on the heads of 9 cadarers fixed with formalinwith three different methods. In the first method, the posterior belly of the digastric muscle was used as a mark, and the FN trunk was identified on the medial side ofthis muscle. In the second method, dissection was initiated at the parotid gland, the FN trunk was identified at its entrance into the parotid gland. In the third method, the styloid process was identified and traced back to the stylomastoid foramen (SMF). The FN trunk was identified on its emergence from the SMF. In every dissection, the whole FN trunk was exposed; its diameter and depth at the the SMF and its length were measured; its relationship, with other structures was studied. Results The FN invariably emerged from the cranial base through the SMF. Its diameter upon its emergence from the foramen was 2.57±0.60mm. The mean minimal distance of the FN trunk from the skin surface in this area was 22.62±2.88 mm. The length of the FN trunk was 15.71±1.97 mm. The distance between the bifurcation and the mastoidale was 18.20±4.41 mm. The distance between the bifurcation and the mandibular angle was 39.91±8.38 mm. The distance between the mastoidale and the SMF was 17.91±2.68 mm. The branches fromthe FN trunk proximal to its bifurcation were the posterior auricular nerve, the digastric muscle nerve and the stylohyoid muscle nerve.Conclusion The third method to expose the FN trunk on its emergence from the SMFis safe and reliable. It is feasible to use only part of the hypoglossal nerve fibers for anastomosis with the FN trunk.
Objective To evaluate the effect of PNS on Idiopathic facial palsy. Methods A total of 86 cases of acute idiopathic facial paralysis were randomly divided into the treatment group (PNS group, 44 cases), and the control group (42 cases). The basis of the two groups included hormone therapy, B vitamins, anti-viral treatment, as well as acupuncture and physical therapy, both in the incidence of 7 days to give the treatment. House-Brackmann facial nerve function classification and evaluation were used to determine clinical efficacy; ENoG line was tested before and after treatment. Results Before H-B classification of facial nerve function, EnoG side of the latency and amplitude in the two groups were comparable. At 28 days after treatment, H-B scores for the treatment group and the control group were (2.33 ± 1.21) and (3.08 ± 1.35), respectively, and the two groups had significant differences (Plt;0.05); ENoG incubation period (2.46 ± 0.34) and amplitude (189 ± 67) of the treatment group were more than those of the control group; the incubation period (3.37 ± 0.49) and amplitude (131 ± 52) improved, and there were significant differences between the two groups (Plt;0.05). Comparison of efficacy of the two groups showed the total effective rate: 95.45% in the treatment group, 80.95% in the control group, and the efficacy of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Sanqi tongshu, B vitamins, anti-virus, such as the acupuncture and physical therapy for the treatment of acute idiopathic facial paralysis have significant effect.
Microsurgery has always been the main treatment for large vestibular schwannomas. With the progress of microsurgical technique and neuroimaging, the application of the intraoperative physiological monitoring technology, as well as the popularization of the concept of minimally invasive neurosurgery, the current development trend of surgery for vestibular schwannomas is to realize both the maximal tumoral resection and the maximal preservation of facial nerve function, which puts more emphasis on the improvement of quality of life. It is still a challenge for neurosurgeons to resect the tumor to the maximum extent and preserve the nerve function as well. In view of this background, the strategy of " near-total resection” and " subtotal resection” combined with stereotactic radiotherapy has been more and more accepted in the past years. However, as a neurosurgeon, the ultimate goal should be " gross-total resection of tumor” and preservation of the nerve function as well. For those tumors severely adherent to neurovascular structure, " near total resection” might be a rational choice. Meanwhile, long-term follow-up should be conducted to clarify the biological behavior of tumor residues, as well as the necessity and long-term effect of stereotactic radiotherapy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the early effects of acellular xenogeneic nerve combined with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) in repairing facial nerve injury in rabbits.MethodsThe bilateral sciatic nerves of 15 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were harvested and decellularized as xenografts. The allogeneic ADSCs were extracted from the neck and back fat pad of healthy adult New Zealand rabbits with a method of digestion by collagenase type Ⅰ and the autologous PRP was prepared by two step centrifugation. The 3rd generation ADSCs with good growth were labelled with CM-Dil living cell stain, and the labelling and fluorescence attenuation of the cells were observed by fluorescence microscope. Another 32 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups and established the left facial nerve defect in length of 1 cm (n=8). The nerve defects of groups A, B, C, and D were repaired with CM-Dil-ADSCs composite xenogeneic nerve+autologous PRP, CM-Dil-ADSCs composite xenogeneic nerve, xenogeneic nerve, and autologous nerve, respectively. At 1 and 8 weeks after operation, the angle between the upper lip and the median line of the face (angle θ) was measured. At 4 and 8 weeks after operation, the nerve conduction velocity was recorded by electrophysiological examination. At 8 weeks after operation, the CM-Dil-ADSCs at the distal and proximal ends of regenerative nerve graft segment in groups A and B were observed by fluorescence microscopy; after toluidine blue staining, the number of myelinated nerve fibers in regenerated nerve was calculated; the structure of regenerated nerve fibers was observed by transmission electron microscope.ResultsADSCs labelled by CM-Dil showed that the labelling rate of cells was more than 90% under fluorescence microscope, and the labelled cells proliferated well, and the fluorescence attenuated slightly after passage. All the animals survived after operation, the incision healed well and no infection occurred. At 1 week after operation, all the animals in each group had different degrees of dysfunction. The angle θ of the left side in groups A, B, C, and D were (53.4±2.5), (54.0±2.6), (53.7±2.4), and (53.0±2.1)°, respectively; showing significant differences when compared with the healthy sides (P<0.05). At 8 weeks after operation, the angle θ of the left side in groups A, B, C, and D were (61.9±4.7), (56.8±4.2), (54.6±3.8), and (63.8±5.8)°, respectively; showing significant differences when compared with the healthy sides and with the values at 1 week (P<0.05). Gross observation showed that the integrity and continuity of regenerated nerve in 4 groups were good, and no neuroma and obvious enlargement was found. At 4 and 8 weeks after operation, the electrophysiological examination results showed that the nerve conduction velocity was significantly faster in groups A and D than in groups B and C (P<0.05), and in group B than in group C (P<0.05); no significant difference was found between groups A and D (P>0.05). At 8 weeks after operation, the fluorescence microscopy observation showed a large number of CM-Dil-ADSCs passing through the distal and proximal transplants in group A, and relatively few cells passing in group B. Toluidine blue staining showed that the density of myelinated nerve fibers in groups A and D were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P<0.05), and in group B than in group C (P<0.05); no significant difference was found between groups A and D (P>0.05). Transmission electron microscope observation showed that the myelinated nerve sheath in group D was large in diameter and thickness in wall. The morphology of myelin sheath in group A was irregular and smaller than that in group D, and there was no significant difference between groups B and C.ConclusionADSCs can survive as a seed cell in vivo, and can be differentiated into Schwann-like cells under PRP induction. It can achieve better results when combined with acellular xenogeneic nerve to repair peripheral nerve injury in rabbits.